Annan gathers aides to brainstorm on refining priorities in wake of terror attacks

Seeking to refine his second-term priorities in the wake of last year’s terrorist attacks, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan gathered his top aides at a retreat near New York today for a brainstorming session to explore ways of enhancing coordination within the UN system and building closer ties with outside partners.

The one-day meeting of his cabinet, or Senior Management Group, follows up on a similar session he held with external experts in January.

“He is asking what the implications of September 11 are for the UN and how the new strategic environment might require refinement of the priorities he originally set for the next five years – namely, poverty, HIV/AIDS, conflict prevention and sustainable development,” Marie Okabe, a spokesperson for Mr. Annan, said.

According to the spokesperson, the Secretary-General will also be asking his colleagues to assess the way the UN has been reaching out to its various constituents – from governments to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), universities and the private sector – as well as to evaluate their efforts to act in a more coherent and coordinated way.